Cleaning Before You Move In To An Apartment

Cleaning Before You Move In To An Apartment

You have a new lease on an apartment for rent and while your new landlord certainly tidied up between tenants, their idea of “clean” might be sweeping the floor, while you’re more of the scrub-it-until-you-can-eat-off-it type. There’s no better time to tackle a deep-cleaning checklist than when your apartment is completely (or at least relatively) empty.

So now’s the time (before you’ve moved in any of your stuff) to make sure your new apartment is truly clean. Here are ten apartment areas that get overlooked between tenants, along with tips on how to make them sparkle.

1. Dust everything above your head

If you’ve ever tried cleaning ceiling fans, chandeliers, or blinds once fully moved in, then you know this can result in a dust cloud floating down and landing all over your favorite furniture. For a no-mess solution, use a pillowcase to dust the ceiling fan blades. Simply slip an old one over the blade, pulling it toward you as you go, collecting dust inside. Case closed.

2. Don’t forget the bathroom exhaust fan

More of a hidden danger, this is something most people don’t even think to clean. Left to collect lint, a ceiling-mounted exhaust fan can become a serious fire hazard. Luckily for you, it’s an easy fix with a few bursts of canned air, which you can find at any office supply store.

3. Wipe down the walls

It’s hard to ignore the fact that walls can get just as grimy as floors — we lean on them, we bump into them, we test the doneness of our pasta on them. Luckily, there’s a relatively painless way to wash painted walls. Using a high-quality large-pad mop and a spray bottle of warm, soapy water, work your way from ceiling to floor in a side-to-side motion, using a rag where needed to clean hard-to-reach crevices and corners.

4. Scrub those cabinets

Before your kitchen cabinets are filled with plates and cups, clean them! Depending on the shelf liner/contact paper situation, you might want to put some down or replace what’s already there. (Just make sure it’s easily removable or get your landlord’s blessing first.) For superstubborn stains, create a paste with baking soda and water. Let it sit in the cabinet for 10 minutes before wiping it away with a damp sponge, then follow up with a dry cloth.

5. Make the floors shine

Never again will you have such unhindered access to what lies beneath your feet. A steam mop is ideal for vinyl, laminate, and tile floors but will wreak havoc on hardwoods. There are surprisingly strong and opposing views when it comes to cleaning hardwood floors — even Martha Stewart has flip-flopped on whether it’s OK to use vinegar. The general consensus: Make sure the mop head is damp rather than wet, and use a cleaner that works well with the floor’s finish (polyurethane is the most common). Not sure about the finish? Just ask your landlord what cleaner they use and go with that. For the carpets, you can rent steam cleaners from grocery stores, superstores, and hardware stores — your landlord might even reimburse you for your work.

6. Disinfect touch points

After all, this was someone else’s home before it was yours. There are obvious places you want germ-free (think sinks, toilets, tubs, and the fridge), but did you ever stop to think about how many germs live on light switches, doorknobs, and deadbolts? If it’s something your hands touch daily (thermostat, alarm pad), then it’s been touched a lot by others too. Be sure to give it all a good wipe-down.

7. Replace the toilet seats

You don’t want to feel as though you’re in a public restroom when you’re on your new home turf. It’s worth it to start fresh with new toilet seats, for obvious reasons. Check with your landlord first; they might be willing to tackle this one for you.

8. Wash the dishwasher

Yes, the appliance that washes your dishes needs washing too. On the hot water setting, run a cycle with a cup of white vinegar in the top rack (and nothing else). Then sprinkle a cup of baking soda in the bottom and run a second hot, short, but complete cycle. Wipe down the seal if it’s grimy, and voilà! Your new-to-you dishwasher will smell fresh and sparkle.

9. Deep-clean the fridge

A cleaning crew may have done a surface clean on the refrigerator in your new apartment, but if you really want to start fresh, this is a good place for a deep dive. Start by removing everything you can, from shelves to drawers, and let them soak in the sink — or bathtub, if your sink isn’t big enough — while you spray down and scrub the inside. (Note: If those shelves are made of glass, let them come to room temperature before you submerge them in hot, sudsy water, or you might end up with a mess of shattered glass.) Do the same for the freezer. If you’re feeling really ambitious, pull the fridge away from the wall, unplug it, and gently vacuum the coils with a brush attachment — chances are, that hasn’t been done in ages (or ever).

10. Scour the bathtub

Speaking of that bathtub, even if it looks clean, you’ll probably feel better about taking a shower — let alone sinking into a nice, warm bath — if you’ve taken the time to de-funk it yourself first. To tackle the job without harsh cleaners, mix up your own scrubbing powder with equal parts of baking soda, borax, and kosher salt. Sprinkle it on, scrub lightly with a damp sponge, and rinse. (Be sure to test a corner first to make sure you won’t scratch the finish!)

Contact

Highly recommended. Remotely arranged in a phone call from Toronto for a home cleaning visit for my elderly parents in Montreal. Paid for it easily using interac online. Their people did a thorough job. My parents were pleased. When the bedroom mirror fell down (no breakage) when being cleaned - through no fault of Mas Cleaning staff - they actually returned the next day with a drill and studded screws to re-attach the mirror. Talk about caring and conscientious! Above and beyond the call of duty. The other web reviews I trusted for choosing Mas Cleaning turned out to be accurate and reliable.

MAS Cleaning has provided us with a very professional cleaning service! They are always on-time, work quickly and diligently while adjusting to our particular needs that vary from visit to visit. They also provided carpet cleaning service on short notice that was exceptional. With the hard work and professional behaviour of their staff, I would highly recommend MAS Cleaning!

I used their service for the first time today as an injury has me unable to keep my house as I would like. I am well pleased! The maid did a wonderful job! I have 3 pets, 2 kids and a full house. She was courteous and willing to work with me on some special requests. I have decided to book the service weekly!

I strongly suggest you to choose Mas cleaning.
Professional and safe. You can left key, when you back everything shiny.
Specially if you don't know where you want to clean, you don't need to say anything. They will take care of through.
125$ Maybe 4h, it's doesn't matter, time it's not the point. Everywhere clean that what you need.

We've used MAS Cleaning on several occasions, we originally got in touch with them because our regular cleaning service was not able to come at a convenient time. We are so happy we discovered them, Sana is absolutely amazing, she pays attention to detail and leaves everything sparkling clean, from the basics to the dusting, we are so happy with the service. We have also used their spring cleaning service and the quality of care that their team took to attend to everything that had to be done was exceptional. We've used several cleaning services before and none of them have ever been this impressive. I cant say enough. Thank you so much to Sana and MAS, coming home to a beautifully cleaned home by thoughtful, thorough and reliable people makes such a difference in day to day life.

Great service.
I was able to do the booking and payment remotely.
Needed a deep clean, move out move in cleaning. Job was well done and photos were provided to me so I can inspect.
My condo is 800 square foot, 1 bedroom and 1 bath. Took 4 hours to complete for 2 cleaners.
Would definitely recommend.

I used MAS cleaning for the first time this week for a 'deep clean' of my elderly parents' home. Sami was kind enough to schedule an appointment at the last minute and Malika and her husband, Said, did an outstanding job on the house. They were professional, efficient and friendly - I highly recommend them!

I called last minute and Sami was super nice and accomodating...even sent me recommendations for a specific paint sealer when we got to talking about painting my home! The cleaners were super efficient and did an excellent job. I would definitely recommend them!

I was very satisfied with this cleaning service. I received next day service. The workers were on time and worked very hard. My house was spotless when they left. They came equipped with all supplies including a vacuum cleaner and mop. I will definitely be using them again and will be recommending them to family and friend!

Booked a cleaning for my mother-in-law who had just moved to her new house. Dealt with Sami, he gave me all the necessary information. The cleaners arrived on time. My mother-in-law was very happy. They did a fantastic job!

Extremely impressed with this cleaning service... cleaners are very pleasant and cleaned my home to perfection. Even after the job was done I received a call from the owner asking for feedback and to me that is fabulous customer service! I would recommend them to family and friends anytime!

I called and booked an appointment. The owner was very friendly and accommodating. When the cleaners arrived, the were friendly as well. They did an amazing job and wanted us to do an inspection of the house to make we were satisfied. A few days later I needed them for another job, it was an emergency and I needed them immediately. The showed up within a 2 hr period and again the job was beyond my expectations. I do no this live Inv the city and the payment option was convenient. I would highly recommend Mas Cleaning to my friends.

I had requested for a moving in cleaning services. The cleaning team arrived on time and did a splendid job. The house is sparkling clean. Very courteous, professional and approachable team who will go above and beyond to take care of your requirements. will definitely recommend and hire them again.

Another satisfied customer. I contacted the company Monday evening and got a response the same night. Prices clearly indicated on their web site. We required post- moving cleaning of a four bedroom house. Iman and her assistant did an excellent job, considering we were still clear out out some rooms at the last minute. She was very friendly and accommodating, and we were extremely happy with the final result.

Great job!
Made my moving-in a much better and pleasant. It was easy to set up an appointment. The couple that came were nice, friendly and did a good job within the time frame. They ensured I did an after check to make sure I was satisfied. Truly appreciated the work. Will definitely make another appointment in the future.

Really great service and reasonable price for my big house. A couple came and did a thorough job, specially with the bathrooms and kitchen. Came on time and did their job properly. I would highly recommend their service. Thanks

Very satisfied with the professionalism of the staff. They cleaned my appartment in a good amount of time and I'm pleased with the result. They were willing to redo areas if I pointed out a problem at no additional cost.

I called and was able to get an appointment the same day! Sana was punctual and professional. She did an amazing job cleaning our apartment and cleaned places we would never have though to clean ourselves!

I finally found a professional clean crew for post construction cleaning. I have been renovating homes for over 15 years and when it's time to deliver the home back to the clients, one of the most important elements is that the home is clean in fresh. I have used many other cleaning companies, and was always very disappointed, Sami took great care in finding me the perfect team to get the job done right the first time.
thank-you every one, especially Iman, you are a real Gem.

Having inquired about a potential cleaning job and initially been given a quote, I sent some very reasonable follow-up questions regarding the fee, cleaning materials and level of service to be expected. I was then rather abruptly told that they could not take my job. I did not tell them when I needed the job booked, yet they claimed to be fully booked. There is nothing on their website that indicates this. Absolutely shocking customer service and utterly unprofessional.
Adding photos

I have been using the services of mas cleaning for well over a year and I’m never disappointed! Their cleaning is superb and they are very professional! Sana and her husband come too our home and I have left my house with them with no hesitation at all while I run some errands. They are so professional and nice! And Sami is always so good at getting back too us right away and friendly and professional! Coming from someone who loves cleaning and expects high standards for cleaning this is the best company too go with!i
Thanks from Saherish and family!

Got an appointment the same week I called in. They gave me a quote over the phone and respected the price after the job was done. They did what was requested and more!!! They were able to remove a stain that I was starting to believe was impossible!
I would definitely use their service again!

Very disappointed. Maybe we had bad luck, but our experience was terrible from start to finish. Main points:
- We recently got a new rental so we requested the move in package for our apartment, and we were recommended and booked for the 1 maid/3 hours option ($125 + $25 additional hour). On the day of, without any warning, two maids arrived and informed us of the two maid rate ($225 + $50 additional hour)! After expressing my confusion, they backtracked and said they will still just charge us $125 because they only need 1.5 hours to finish anyways. I was surprised but I gave them the benefit of the doubt.
- The maids had no idea what their tasks were and their English was poor. Word of warning-- the cleaning scope advertised on their website is not at all what they actually did! I told them I had the move in package, but asked them to focus on the floors and bathroom (2/7 what was described online)-- and that was ALL they did. They touched absolutely NOTHING else.
- Despite only cleaning the floors (which was only hardwood and tile) and the bathroom, they did a terrible job. I ran my swiffer over the bedroom floor, and it came back dirty (see photo). There was still hair on the floor. There was still dirt and grime on the kitchen floor, especially near the walls.
- There was still grime left in the bathroom (see photo of sink). Moreover, *they left powder bleach all over the toilet*... how ridiculous!!!! I had to give the toilet a full on wipe down in order to use it.
- They told me they would charge an extra 30 minutes in order to clean the oven. See the third photo-- I ended up having the scrub the oven door myself, something I paid THEM to do.
All in all, it was a terrible experience for us. I feel fooled by the good reviews. I will not recommend this service and will not hire them again.